Victory in defeat for FC Barcelona's brave junior squad.


Match Report: Tuesday 11/09/2007 21:45 (GMT +1), Copa Catalunya Final
GIMNASTIC - FC BARCELONA 2-1 (0-0)


Stadium: Nou Municipal, Palamos

Referee: Alvarez Izquierdo


Goals:
0-1 Vasquez ( 50' )

1-1 Pinilla ( 55' )
2-1 Maldonado ( 79' )


Cautions:

Yellow Card: Fali ( 71' )


Line-Up:


FC Barcelona (4-3-3):
Jorquera, Corcoles ( Fali, 46' ), Botia, Marc Crosas, Dimas, Jeffren, Thiago ( Abraham, 63' ), Sylvinho, Ezquerro, Vasquez ( Pedro, 78' ), Oleguer

Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Gimnastic (4-4-2): Juanmi, Rubio, Abraham, Mairata, O.Lopez, Chabaud, David Sanchez, Campano ( Miku, 56' ), Gorka, Pinilla, Calle ( Maldonado, 56' )
Manager: Javi Lopez


Match Report:

Nastic proved they deserve to be back in the Spanish Primera, coming from a goal down after only five minutes into the second half to beat Barcelona.
The match saved a lot of its great events and drama for the second half, in which Barca's Victor Vasquez scored in the 50th minute off a through pass, cleverly slipping the ball past the Nastic keper and into the net to open scores.


Gimnastic responded in just five minutes with a well placed header by Pinilla. A free-kick in the 55th minute went far into the Bracelona area, tempting goalkeeper Jorquera to come out for an interception. The keeper's punch didn't get to ball as Pinilla got a head to it first, connecting for a Nastic equalizer. Both sides continued to size each other up, with good display coming from the enterprising young wards of FC Barcelona. Johan Neeskens, who stood in for coach Frank Rijkaard, urged his boys on. However, experience must have been the young team's major undoing, as just eleven minutes from time, the defenders left Maldonado unmarked in the area. The Gimnastic substitute connected a volley across Jorquera and into Barca's net for the winning goal.


In the 88th minute, Ezquerro lost a great chance to equalize for the Blaugrana, but his shot went wide, sealing all hopes for the young Barcelona side to come back and force the game into extra-time.


My Comments :

Gimnastic played a good game and must be commended for the way the team remained intact and focused even after going down 0-1 to Barcelona in the 50th minute.


When the Barca senior team players return from international duties, an even more sobre and solemn atmoshpere will desend on Camp Nou, as even though the Copa Catalunya trophy is not a national championship, it still remains one of the very important and highly coveted trophies which the Blaugrana set out to win this year. This very Copa Catalunya was one of the saving graces for Barcelona last season as the trophy was a glowing piece of silverware in the almost empty shelf of FC Barcelona in the 2006/07 season.


With a largely depleted side starved of its first team players and even some good sub-players in the first team, Barca had to rely on a team comprising almost entirely reserve team players from Barca B. Barcelona may have lost the first trophy of the season to Gimnastic de Tarragona, but some compensation lies in the fact that the reserve team have gained lots of valuable experience which will come in handy very soon.

Pride at stake, but no pride on display as Barcelona plays the Copa Catalunya final match.


Ahead of the Copa Catalunya final match between FC Barcelona and Gimnastic de Tarragona on Tuesday, 11th September, Barcelona's coach Frank Rijkaard is cautious about the high ratings the Blaugrana are receiving over their opponents, Gimnastic. Coming in with a young and relatively inexperienced side when compared to the first team of Barca, the youthful reserve players who dominate the team to play the final match are however, praised by coach Rijkaard who has instilled a lot of confidence in the young lads. So far, they have not disappointed. Cautiously, Rijkaard says:

You can’t speak of favourites. The truth is there are lots of reserve team players and this will be a great experience for them. This final will be a good experience for the reserve players. It won’t be easy for them but they are all looking forward to it.

The coach has named his squad for the Copa Catalunya final match against Gimnastic. They are:


Valdés, Jorquera, Ezquerro, Oleguer, Sylvinho, Marc Crosas, Córcoles, Víctor Vázquez, Dimas, Fali, Jeffren, Emilio, Gai, Thiago, Xavi Torres, Víctor Sánchez, Rueda, Botía, Pedro and Abraham.


The match starts at 21:45 hours ( GMT + 1 ) and will be shown live on Barca TV.